The Senior Resident   Magistrate Court in Kasungu District has sentenced 57-year-old Kaliza Njolomole to 18 years imprisonment for defiling a 12-year-old girl.

Police Prosecutor James  Muyila told the court that the  convict defiled the girl on January 29 this year at Chigumba Trading Centre where she had gone to play with her friends.

Njomole  pleaded guilty to the charges levelled against him and the State prayed for  a stiffer punishment to deter would-be offenders.

Passing sentence, Resident Magistrate Bira Kamanga concurred with the State the the convict needed to be punished severely and  therefore sentenced him  to 18 years imprisonment with hard labour.

Njolomole hails from Mbewa Village in the area of Traditional Authority Wimbe in Kasungu District.